Rajya Puruskar ceremony held at Raj Bhavan

Kohima, April 22 (EMN): Stating that scouting is one of the several worldwide youth organisations, Governor PB Acharya said the purpose of the Scouting movement is to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, emotional, survival skills, social and spiritual potentials as responsible citizens and as members of local, national and international communities.

He was speaking as the main celebrant during the Hindustan Scouts & Guides Association-India Rajya Puraskar ceremony held at Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan Kohima this afternoon. Governor Acharya is also the State Chief Patron of Scout Movement in India.

As the law of the Scouts & Guide signifies, Acharya urged the children to be trustworthy, loyal, friends to all and a brothers and sister, to every other Scout & Guide, be courteous, friend to animals and love nature, disciplined and also helps to protect public property, courageous, thrifty, pure in thought, word and deed.

While expressing his desire that more students and youths in the country should take up other co-curricular activities so that they might play constructive roles in society, he stressed on the need to strengthen ‘our unity.’

Strongly asserting that ‘we cannot afford to be stagnant,’ Acharya encouraged the youth to be nodal agents to reach the designated people in every corner of the State.

Acharya also released the Scout & Guides annual book and gave away the Rajya Puraskar awards to the State Chief Commissioner, Rev. Fr. Dr. Sojan Puthankudy.

While referring to the present world of mediocre leadership and with least commitment and vision, he said this movement has the potential to change the destiny of the nation by shaping young minds and the power to build up the personality and the self-confidence of the children and young people.

Also expressing concern on the values enshrined in the constitution that are being tested today with the onslaught of western culture invasion and materialistic mentality, Rev. Puthankudy said, this movement, which focuses on building up values and discipline projects, itself is a catalyst in forming the young people to be God fearing, disciplined and value based.

Highlighting on some of values of the movement, he said this movement is focused on building up supreme confidence in the power of the young people, guides them to be adventurous and also to bring them up through scout and guides good example.

While thrusting responsibility in them to build up leadership, he said it also endeavours to educate them to get out of the groove of selfishness to selflessness and proposes to develop loyalty to one’s own group, state and the country.

He said the movement endeavours to instil efforts among the children on the principle from ‘what can I get’ to ‘what can I give’ attitude.

Encouraging the parents, Rev. Puthankudy assured that the children are in the hands of an excellent movement in shaping the destinies of growing up kids.

A prayer song was presented by the Shishuchetana comprising of 4-6 years old, while a patriotic dance was performed by the Bulbuls aged 6-10 years and clap drill skit by the scout & guides.

The programme concluded with vote of thanks proposed by M Gnana Nirmala, NTC cum Secretary for North Eastern Region and Nagaland State Hindustan Scouts & Guides- India.